Silly Jobs Await In When I Grow Up
Al Yankovic: When I Grow Up ($3.99) by HarperCollins Publishers keeps you looking for interactive gems hidden on each page. The app is an adaptation of (Weird) Al Yankovic’s children’s book.
Billy waits anxiously for show-and-tell in Mrs. Krupp’s class to answer the question “When I grow up, what am I gonna be?” Billy then rattles off his future careers once he gets center stage. Such aspirations include: snail trainer, giraffe milker, gorilla masseuse, and smelly pit-sniffing deodorant tester. Mrs. Krupp seems to regret calling on Billy to share.
The app has 18 pages, each one using some form of interactivity. Tilting your device will roll pencils on desks or wagons across the ground. Swiping on certain characters will make them move. I found a picture of a fish on the wall that allowed you to type a word on it. “Fish” seemed good enough for me. I was surprised to find the "fish"-printed picture throughout the story.
The most striking feature that sets this app apart from other story apps is the chance to play games within the story. The different supplemental games range from “Xtreme Snail Race” to “Tarantula Shaver.” Each game has its own unique gameplay, though playing them is completely optional. I would imagine kids would enjoy the change of pace.
You may want to select to “Read Myself” at the beginning of the story. Al’s narration in the “Read to Me” option just sounds too over-the-top (if that’s even possible for him).
Overall, this is a truly interactive app, featuring elements that engage the user and while presenting the story.
